annex a media factsheet the singapore botanic gardens learning...

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ANNEX A

MEDIA FACTSHEET

The Singapore Botanic Gardens Learning Forest

Topography of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Learning Forest

Approximately 10 hectares in size, the Learning Forest is located at the new Tyersall-Gallop

Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Learning Forest is home to more than 100

species of birds, 20 species of amphibians and reptiles, 19 species of butterflies, and 7 species

of mammals and over 500 species of plants.

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The Learning Forest is designed to integrate with the Gardens' existing 6-hectare Rain Forest

to form an enlarged forest habitat. Together, it forms a contiguous swathe of forest through

the heart of the Gardens, creating more opportunities for the pollination and seed dispersal of

native forest trees. The Learning Forest will strengthen ex situ conservation of plants native to

the region and create additional habitats for native wildlife. It will also buffer the Rain Forest

and its surroundings from changes in the microclimate due to the urban environment. The

Learning Forest is an extensive restoration project of the wetlands and forests that formerly

surrounded the Gardens. Taking reference from maps dating back as far as the early 19th

century, plans were developed from detailed analyses of the soils, topography and hydrology

of the site. Through extensive surveys, these former habitats were restored to conserve a wide

variety of native flora and fauna.

In recognition of its ecological significance, NParks announced in 2015 that the Learning

Forest comprising 10 hectares of secondary forest, and 4 hectares of surrounding forest area,

had been designated as a Nature Area. This brings the entire Nature Area within the

Singapore Botanic Gardens to 20 hectares (including the 6-hectare Rain Forest). Critically

endangered native species like Memecylon cantleyi, are found in both the Rain Forest and

Learning Forest, evident of an existing ecological connection across the two tracts of forest.

Both these areas are habitats for representative biodiversity found in Singapore and the

region, and are also important reference for the ongoing research work of restorative ecology

around the region.

Highlights of the Learning Forest

The Learning Forest features a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways that allow

visitors to explore various habitats, from the wetlands to the rainforests. Highlights of the

Learning Forest include a bambusetum featuring 30 species of bamboo found in Asia; over

50 species of wild fruit trees with familiar relatives, such as species from the soursop

(Annonaceae), jackfruit (Moraceae), lychee (Sapindaceae) and mango (Anacardiaceae)

families; a collection of trees that exhibit the phenomena of cauliflory and ramiflory; and trees

with interesting forms and barks.

Visitors can also learn about swamp forest ecosystems at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands,

and walk amongst a collection of some of the tallest tree species in Southeast Asia at the SPH

Walk of Giants. For more information about the Keppel Discovery Wetlands, please refer to

Annex B. For more information about the SPH Walk of Giants, please refer to Annex C.

The Learning Forest is next to the 8-hectare Gallop extension, which will be opened to the

public by 2018. When ready, visitors can look forward to exploring a Dipterocarp arboretum,

the Forest Conservation Interpretive Centre and Natural History Art Gallery. For more

information about the Gallop extension, please refer to Annex D.

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Variety of flora found in the Learning Forest

1. Bamboo

No. Name/Picture Description

1 Buluh betung (Dendrocalamus giganteus)

Grows to huge sizes, among the

largest known for bamboos.

Culms used in construction and

internodes for buckets.

2 Wadan (Dinochloa scabrida)

Twining and clambering bamboo

forming veritable thickets around

trees. Endemic to Borneo (Sabah

and E Kalimantan).

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3 Timorese black bamboo (Bambusa lako)

Medium-size bamboo with dark

green culms which typically turn

purplish black with age. Used in

ornamental planting.

4 Buluh lemang (Schizostachyum

brachycladum)

Medium-size bamboo yielding

thin-walled tubes lined with

banana leaf and used for cooking

lemang, a Malay glutinous rice

preparation.

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5 Vietnamosasa darlacensis

Medium-size bamboo with tight

clumps of slender stems and

bushy, elegant fine foliage. Of

ornamental value.

Credit for photos of bamboo: Wong Khoon Meng, National Parks Board

2. Wild Fruit Trees


1 Penarahan Gajah Tree (Horsfieldia sucosa)

Credit: Cerlin Ng

A relative of the nutmeg tree, it

bears succulent, bird-attracting

fruits that are the size of ping pong

balls.

2 Keppel Tree (Stelechocarpus burahol) The light brown fruits of this tree

are said to have been a favourite

of Javanese princesses in the

past. Ants, butterflies and bees

are attracted to the fruits of this

tree.

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Credit: Patricia Yap

3 Green Tampang (Artocarpus lacucha)

Credit: Cerlin Ng

This endangered native tree is

valued for its edible fruit.

4 Asam Gelugor (Garcinia atroviridis) This native fruit tree can grow up

to 30m in height and is critically

endangered in Singapore. Its

fruits are round and up to 10cm in

diameter.

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Credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

5 Redan (Nephelium maingayi)

This is a small, hairless relative of

the Rambutan (Nephelium

lappaceum). It grows in the

rainforests of Malaysia and

Indonesia.

3. Trees with interesting forms and barks


1 Indian Prune (Flacourtia rukam) The Indian Prune has strong

woody spines that take a variety

of forms, from simple needle-like

spines to multiple-branched ones.

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Credit: Flora Fauna Web, National Parks

Board

2 Pelawan (Tristaniopsis whiteana)

Credit: Shee Zhi Qiang, National Parks Board

The Pelawan has colourful,

smooth bark that peels off like

paper. Pelawan trees form a

distinct belt of vegetation along

river systems in the Malay

Peninsula.

3 Gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi) This tree has white, flaky bark and

its trunk is spongy to the touch.

Kampong Glam is named after

this tree.

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Credit: Julius Fu

4 Dammar Minyak (Agathis borneensis)

Credit: Julius Fu

This tree has dimpled bark that

flakes off in patches to create a

jigsaw-puzzle pattern on the

trunk. It can grow to about 50 m

tall.

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Biodiversity found in the Learning Forest


1 Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo (Dicrurus

paradiseus)

Credit: Francis Yap

This bird is recognised by its two

distinctive tail streamers, and is

able to mimic the sounds made

by other birds and animals in the

forest.

2 Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

Credit: Francis Yap

Singapore’s largest kingfisher,

measuring about 35cm in length,

can be found at the edges of

inland waterbodies. It is easily

recognised by its red bill and feet.

3 Greater Bamboo Bat (Tylonycteris robustula) One of the smallest bats in

Singapore, it has a flattened skull

which allows it to squeeze

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Credit: Robert Teo, National Parks Board

through tiny openings (about

5mm) in bamboos.

4 Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi)

Credit: Myron Tay

This snake is capable of gliding

from tree to tree. By flattening its

body, it forms a concave surface

to trap air underneath, allowing it

to glide up to 100m.

5 Many-lined Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata) Sporting black stripes down its

brown body, this lizard is active

during the day and often found

among the leaf litter and

undergrowth of forest floors.

Unlike other lizards, the females

give birth to live young instead of

laying eggs.

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Credit: Cyrena Lin, National Parks Board

6 Crab-eating Frog (Fejevarya cancrivora)

Credit: Noel Thomas, National Parks Board

This frog feeds on crabs and

other small animals. It is able to

tolerate salty water and is one of

few species of frogs that can be

found in mangroves.

7 Malayan Box Terrapin (Cuora amboinensis)

This native terrapin can be found

in streams, ponds and reservoirs

in forested areas such as the

Central Catchment Nature

Reserve and the Singapore

Botanic Gardens. It is easily

recognisable from the two yellow

stripes on the side of its head.

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